Apparatus for machining helical surfaces, such as those of propellers and propeller-blades.



- w. N. VENNER. APPARATUS :FOR MAGHINING HELIGAL' SURFACES SUCH AS THOSE0F PROPELLERS AND PROPELLER BLADES. APP OATIQN FILED APR. 6. I906.

690 Patented Oct. 13, 1908.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1. 80

W. N. VENNER. APPARATUS FOR MACHINING HELIGAL SURFACES $11011 AS THOSE0F PROPELLBBS AND PROPELLER BLADES. 1

APPLICATION FILED APR. 6. 1906.

125 lzz Patented Oct. 13,1900.

'2 SHEETSSHBET 2.

A UNITED? STATES PATENT OFFICE.

f WILLLIAM NUNN vENNER, or BROCKLEY, ENGLAND.

APPARATUS FOR MACHINING HELICAL SURFACES, SUCH AS THOSE OF PROPELLERSAND PROPELLER-BLADES.

. Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct; 13, 1908.

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be 1t known that I, WILLIAM NUNN VEN- NER, a subject of the King ofGreat-Britain,

residing-at 28 Rokeby road, Brockley, in'the county of Kent, England,have invented 'new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for MachiningHelical Surfaces. such as Those ofPropellers and Propeller-Blades, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improved apparatus for machining large helicalsurfaces such as those of propellers or propeller blades, in which thework is fixed and the tool is carried on a saddle which reciprocates orslides on a radial bar or cross head adaptedto revolve or osclllate andto move in a verradial direction on a radial arm which moves slowly inthe directiouof the pitch to take the feed. Fig. 2 is a side elevationof a part of the apparatus. Fig. 3 is a detail in sectional elevationshowing how the radial bar or cross head is fed in the direction of thepitch by gearing from the main shaft and Fig. 4 is a. plan thereof. Fig.5 is an eleva-.

tion of a modification. Fig. 5 is a detail in plan, to a larger scale.Fig. 6 is a similar View of a modified construction of apparatus inwhich the tool is adapted to be fed in a radial direction while theradial arinanoves backwards and forwards in the direction of the pitch,and Fig. 7 is a detail plan View showing means for altering thedirection of movement of the radial arm.

In carryn'lg the invention mto effect, the

propeller or as shown the propeller blade 17,

see Figs. 1 and 2, is fixed to a suitable fixed bed or on the ground orto a bracket18, and if the n'lachine be required for machining bladesonly, the bracket 18 is adapted to be adjusted to any angle to suit thelean aft of the propeller blade. by for example pivoting it at 19 to thesaddle 20 of a slide rest 21;- the bracket is provided with a revolubleface plate 22 ha viug a worm wheel 23 engag-' ing with a worm 24mountedin bearings in :the bracket for the purpose of facilitating thesetting up of the propeller blade 17.

or radial bar marked 25 which is arranged to move up and down on astandard or column marked 26 and to oscillate or partially irevolvethereon. This radial bar or cross head 25 has mounted thereon a saddle27 having a slide rest 28 on to which the tool 9 is clamped and thesaidsaddle is adapted [to slide backwards and forwards on the radial baror cross head so that the cuts on the propeller blade are taken in aradial direction, suitable means being provided which :Wlll be describedlater on. The radial bar or 1 down on the column or standard 26 bysliding freely thereon. The amount of move- 'ment in the vertical planebeing according to the vertical movement resulting from the movement ofthe saddle 32 up or down the inclined pitch piece 33, to be hereinafterdescribed. The weight of the radial bar and .parts connected thereto issupported at the end of the column by, for example, a counterweight 370having a chain 380 passing over a pulley 390 suspended from the roof orother fixed part, and said bar is adapted to revolve or oscillate moreor less by suitable means on the standard.

To inachine'the blade of the propeller in lines radiating from thecenter of the standard, while the feed takes place in the direction ofthe pitch, that is to say in both horizontal and vertical planes, theradial bar or cross head. 25 is mounted so as to be capable of freelymoving up and down the central column or standard by means of the screw126, as hereinafter described with reference to Fig. 5 while the outerendof the said bar is provided with a stem 29 mounted in a-sleeve 30connected by a joint 31 to a saddle 32 or the like adapted to be movedpitch piece 33, is mounted on a horizontal pivot 34 and is adapted to bemoved to, and clamped at, any angle to fix the pitch because the radialbar 25', is oscillated or moved backw ards and forwards and the saddle32 is moveda-dn the pitch piece 33.

In order that that part of the pitch piece The machine is provided witha cross head I on which the saddle is resting, shall always be at thesame distance from the axis of the pivot of the radial bar, which isalso the axis of the column 26, the pitch piece 33 is mounted ona-standard 35 adapted to slide in the We of a fixed bed 36.

The pitch piece is provided with a counterweight 37 and chain 38 passingover the pulley 39 for the purpose of keeping the standard 35 at thesame radial distance from the center of the column 26.

Motion is communicated to the saddle 32 by a screw 10 and. the usual nut(not shown), andby an ordinary handle for turning the screw 10 by handin any convenient and well-known manner.

Motion is communicated to cause the saddle 27 to move backwards andforwards on the radial arm 25 by means of a shaft s1 having fast pulleysm and n and loose pulleys 0, strap shifting rod p and a miter wheel 42which gears with another miter wheel 43 keyed to a shaft 44: revolvingin hearings in the column 26. The upper end of this shaft 44 is providedwith a spur wheel 45 gearing with another spur wheel 16 adapted to slideon but to revolve with another shaft 4:7 which by miter wheels 18 and4:9 drives the screw which revolves in the nut in the saddle 27 on theradial bar 25. a

In order to effect the movement of the strap shifting rod the saddle 27is for example adapted to come into contact alternately with theadjustable stops 51 and 52 adjustably mounted on the sliding rod 53which has a T-link 303 within the slot of which engages a pin on the endof the striking lever 54 which is connected to the rod p and has itsfulcrum in the bracket 55 fixed to the column of the machine.

The feed of the tool may also be effected by motion transmitted from themain shaft and a convenient way for carrying this into effect consistsfor instance, of a stop255 (see Figs. 3 and 1) mounted on the saddle 27on the radial arm 25, which stop comes into contact with a pawl lever 56loose on a short shaft 57 the said pawl lever having a pawl 58 pivotedthereto which is held against the pawl wheel 59 by a spring 60. The pawlwheel 59 is keyed to the short shaft 57. The lever 56 is attached to alug on the sleeve 30 by a spring 61 so as to bring the said lever backto its normal position when the stop 255 releases it. The short shaft 57has mounted thereon a miter wheel 62 which gears with a miter wheel 63screwed internally to fit the screw 40 and held in bearings within thesad- 1 dle 32 so as to be capable of sliding therewith,

the screw being fixed. The upper end of the short shaft 57 isconveniently provided with a square for a handle for causing thetraverse of the saddle 32-on the by hand.

If desired, the vertical motion may be pitch piece 33 sconce other miterwheel 43 keyed to the vertical shaft 44c adapted to revolve in bearingswithin the column 92 which is adapted to oscillate with the radial bar93. The latter is pivoted to the sleeve 94 which is capable of slidingup and down on the said column and the upper end of the shaft 44 isprovided with a spur wheel 95 gearing with another spur wheel 96 whichis keyed so as to be axially slidable on a shaft 97. This shaft by meansof a pair of miter wheels (not shown) at the back of and adapted totravel with the radial bar, drives a spindle 98 having keyed thereon amiter wheel 99 gearing with another miter wheel 100 keyed to the screw50 which imparts rapid motion to the saddle 27 by a nut within the saidsaddle but not shown which saddle thus receives a to and fro slidingmotion on the radial bar 93.

The saddle'is suitably provided with an adjustable rod 101 which isadapted to come into contact with a pawl lever 102 when the saddle 27reaches the end of its forward stroke. The pawl lever has a pawl 103pivoted thereto shown more clearly in Fig. 5

and held up to a ratchet wheel 104 provided with a feather and adaptedto slide on a shaft 105. The pawl lever is loosely mounted on the saidshaft and is supported by a bracket 106 fixed to the saddle 107 to whichthe outer end of the radial arm 93 is adjustably connected. This saddle107 has a nut (not shown) in'which works a screw 108 to cause the saddleand with it the outer end of the radial bar to ascend ordescendaccording to the direction in which the said screw revolves. Thesaddle 107 at the end of the radial arm 93 is adapted to slide up and'down on a vertical standard or slide 109 provided with a saddle 110.The latter is mounted on a partly circular bed 111, the curve of whichis struck from the center of the column 92. The shaft 105 is caused torevolve a fraction of a revolution each time the adjustable rod 101strikes the pawl lever 102 and the spur wheel .112 keyed to the shaft105, and gearing with the rack 113, causes the saddle 110 to move acertain distance along the bed 111.- When the shaft 105 revolves, italso con'nminicates motion, by change wheel gearing such as 114: and 115mounted on a quadrant 116, to a spur wheel 117, keyed to the upper endof the screw 108, so that the radial bar receives a small motion in ahorizontal and also in a vertical plane corresponding to the pitch ofthe propeller. In order that the other or inner end of the radial barmay receives.

corresponding motion in the vertical plane, the screw 108 has alsomounted thereon a miter wheel 118 gearing with another miter wheel 119mounted-on a shaft 120. The inner end of this shaft is also providedwith a quadrant 121 and by means of change wheels 122 motion iscommunicated to a shaft 123 carrying a miter wheel 125', and the lattergears with another miter wheel 124 which is mounted on a screw 126revolving in bearings in a bracket 127 ,fixed to the upper end of thecolumn 92, which screw passes through a nut 128 mounted in a lug on thesliding sleeve 94. v

In order that reciprocating motion may I be'communicated to the saddle27 on the radial bar 93, fast pulleys m and n and loose pulleys o areprovided and the strap shifting rod p is operated by aconnecting rod 129which by a lever 130 on a shaft 131 receives motion by another lever 132keyed to the same shaft from a rod 133 mounted in bearings on the radialbar 93 and having adjustable stops 134, 134. The shaft 131- is providedwith a feather way and the lever 132 with a feather, but the lever isfree to move up and down on the shaft 131 with the radial arm 93. Thesaddle 27 comes into parting slow partial revolving or oscillating.

motion to the radial bar (the out being taken in a radial dire tion)gives a slow motion to the tool in the. direction of the pitch by meanssuch as the spur wheel 11,2 and the rack 113 and screws such as 1 26 and108 driven by gearing and nuts connected to or made in one with theradial bar so as to communicate motion tothe radial bar at or near theaxis of the column and also at the outer end thereof in'such manner thata definite and corresponding motion may be given to the radial bar atboth ends.

The construction shown in Figs. 6 and 7 is very similar except that theradial bar reccives a rapid oscillating motion in the direction ofthepitch, the tool takes cuts in the direction of the pitch, instead ofradially as in the last example and the feed is consequently taken in aradial direction. The shaft 44 is, as-before, driven by fast pulleyssuch as m and n and provided with loose pulleys 0 and is furtherprovided with 'a strap shifting rodsuch as 72 before described.

This strap shifting rod is connected by a bar 136 is moved andby the.bell crank lever that is to say, the screw 126 is driven by gearing-139and 140 and the screw 108 is driven from the screw 126 by means of thegearing 124, 125, the shaft 123, spur gearing 122 for communicating thesame or a different speed to the shaft 120 (according asthe pitch of thepropeller blade is to be uniform or variable) and miter wheels 119 and118, the latter of which is mounted on the screw 108. The pinion 112gearing with the rack 113 on the bed is suitably driven by means ofchange speed gear marked 141 receiving motion from the screw 108 andcommunicating motion to the shaft 105 of the pinion 112. Motion iscommunicated to the screw 142 on the radial arm by a handle as shown bythe resultant motion of the ra ial bar follows the direction of thedesire pitch line of the helical surface in every vertical planethereof, the said radial bar being supported at its other end by theother standard, a driving shaft, means for causingsaid shaft torevolvein either direction, positive gearing for causing the motion ofthe radial bar or cross head in the direction of the pitch of -move upand down on said stantglrd, wherethe propeller, a saddle for the tooladapted Y to slide on said radial bar and means for communicating motionto said saddle, substantially as set forth. I

'2. Apparatus for machining helical surfaces such as those of propellersand propeller blades comprising means for holding the work inposition,two standards, a radial bar or crosshead adapted to move in thedirection of the pitch of the propelleig'being mounted on one standardso as to be free to oscillate in a horizontal plane on the axis of thesaid standard and also to mOVe up and down on said standard, the saidradial bar being supported at its other end by the other standard, a bedon which said stand-- ard is adapted to slide, a driving shaft, meansfor causing said driving shaft to revolve in either direction, positivegearing for causing the motion of the radial bar 'or cross head intheadirection of the pitch, a saddle for the tool adapted to slide onsaid radial bar and gearing for communicating oscillate in a-horizontalplane on the axis of the stud standard and also to move up and down onsaid standard, the said radial bar being supported at its other end bythe other standard, a bed concentric withthe first standard and on whichthe second standard is adapted to slide, a driving shaft, means forcausing said driving shaft to revolve in either direction, positivegearing for causing the motion of the radial bar in the direction of thepitch of the propeller, a saddle for the tool adapted to slide on saidradial bar and gearing for communicating motion to said saddlesubstantially as set forth.

4. Apparatus for machining helical surfaces such as those of propellersand propeller blades comprising means for holding the Work in position,two arallel standards, a radial bar or cross head. adapted to move inthe direction of the pitch of the propeller, being mounted on onestandard so as to be free to oscillate in a horizontal plane on the axisof the said standard and also to move up and down on said standard, thesaid radial bar being adapted at its other end to slide up and down onthe second standard, a bed concentric with the first standard and onwhich the second standard is adapted to slide, a driving shaft, meansfor causing said driving shaft to revolve in either direction,

positive gearing for causing the motion of the radial bar in thedirection of the pitch, a saddle for the tool adapted to slide on saidradial bar and gearing for connnunicating motion to said saddlesubstantially as set forth.

5. Apparatus for machining helical surfaces such as those of propellersand propeller blades, comprising means for holding the Work in position,two parallel standards, a radial bar or cross head adapted to move inthe direction of the pitch of the propeller being mounted on onestandard so as to be free to oscillate in a horizontal plane on the axisof said standard and also to move up and down in a vertical plane onsaid standard, the said radial bar being adapted at its other'end toslide up and down on the second standard, means for adjusting the radialarm so that the angle it forms with the first standard may be varied,means for clamping said radial bar in position, a horizontal bedconcentric with the first standard and on which the second standard isadapted to slide,

a driving shaft, means for causing said driveoaeoe ing shaft to revolvein either direction. positive gearing for causing the motion of theradial bar in the direction of the pitch, a saddle for the tool adaptedto slide on said radial bar and gearing for connnunicating motion tosaid saddle substantially as set forth.

6. Apparatus for machining helical surfaces such as those of propellersand propeller blades, comprising a central standard or column adapted tooscillate on its axis, another standard adapted to move in a curvearound the axis of the central column, a part circular horizontal bed onwhich the outer standardis adapted to slide, a 'adial bar or cross headmounted on the said column and standard and adapted to slide in avertical plane thereon, a saddle for the tool adapted to reciprocate onsaid radial arm, means for adjusting the radial arm so that th: angle itforms with the column may be varied, means for clamping said radial armin position, a driving shaft, means for causing said driving shaft torevolve in either direction, gearing for con'nnunicating motion from.the driving shaft to the saddle for the tool and positive gearingoperated by the saddle when it reaches one end of its stroke forcomn'umicating motion to cause the radial bar to move in a verticalplane and in a horizontal plane substantially as set forth.

7 Apparatus for machining helical surfaces such as' those of propellersand propeller blades, comprising a central stainlard or column adaptedto oscillate on its axis, another stand ardadapted to move in a curvearound the axis of the central column, a part circular horizontal bed onwhich the second standard is adapted to slide, a radial bar or crosshead pivoted at one end to a sliding sleeve on the central column and atthe other end to a slide mounted on a saddle on the second standard,means for fixing the said cross head to the said sliding sleeve and thesaid saddle, the said sliding sleeve, the said saddle, another saddlefor carrying the tool and adapted to reciprocate on said radial arm, adriving shaft, means for causing said driving shaft to revolve in eitherdirection, gearing for connnuuicating motion from the driving shaft tothe saddle for the tool and positive gearing operated by the saddle whenit reaches one end of its stroke for connnunieating motion to cause theradial bar to more in a vertical plane and in a horizontal planesimultaneously substantiallly as set forth.

8. Apparatus for machining helical sur faces such as those of propellersand propeller blades, comprising a central standard or column adapted.to oscillate on its axis, another standard adapted to move in a curvearound the axis of the central column, a part circular horizontal bed onwhich the second standard is adapted to slide, a 'adial bar or crosshead pivoted at one end to a sliding sleeve on the central column and atthe other saddle, another saddle for carrying the to and adapted toreciprocate onsaid radix arm, a driving shaft, gearing for causing saiddriving shaft to revolve in either direccross head to the said slidingsleeve, the saiijl tion, gearing for communicating motion from thedriving shaftto the saddle for the tool, means operated by the said toolsaddle when it reaches each end of its stroke to operate thesaid'reversing gear and positive gearing operated by the saddle when itreaches one end'of its stroke for communicating motion to cause theradial bar to move on and with the said standards in a vertical planeand in a horizontal plane simultaneously, substantially asset forth.

9.-Apparatus for machining helical surfaces such as those of propellersand propeller blades, comprising means for holding.

the work in position, a radial bar or crosshead capable of oscillatorymovement about an axis and simultaneously of movement parallel to saidaxis, positive gearing for so proportioning the two movements that theresulting motion of the radial bar follows the direction of the desiredpitch line of the helical surface in every plane thereof at rightanglesto said axis, a saddle for the tool adapted to slide on said radial bar,and means for communicating motion to said saddle, substantially as setforth WILLIAM NUNN VENNER. Witnesses:

' V. JENSEN,

H. D. JAMESON.

